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licensed fold liquors, which was about one house in eight; that in Holburn divifion there were 7066 houses, of which 1350, licensed and unlicensed, fold liquors, which was about one houfe in five and one fourth; that in St Giles's there were about zooo houses, and 506 ginfhops, which was about one houfe in four; and that there were, befides, in the faid parish of St Giles's, about 82 twopenny-houses, of the greatest infamy, where gin was the principal liquor drank.- -The gin-act has in fome measure reformed this abufe.

Another writer reduces the caufes from which a scarcity can arife to four heads: 1. Inclemency of feafons; 2. Want of tillage; 3. Confumption in artificial ufes; 4. Exportation. He fays, That when a fcarcity arifes from the two first causes, the effect of the other two ought to be prevented: That with regard to tillage, it has not yet come to a proper height in Ireland, nor has any bounty been granted in England on the exportation of white peafe: That the annual exportation is computed at 500,000 quarters of wheat, and the ditilling at 450,000 quarters; that whenever a scarcity requires the bounty fhould ceafe, the diftillery ought to be discouraged by an additional duty; and when exportation is stopt, a double duty ought to be imposed on diftilling; and if the prices ftill increase, diftilling fhould be prohibited: That the bounty on wheat fhould ceafe when the lowest price of wheat is 4 s. per bufhel; when above 6 s. exportation fhould ftop: That a few great markets on each fide of the kingdom fhould be appointed to return to the commiffioners of the caftoms weekly an account of the prices of grain, the average of which the commiffioners should certify to the council monthly or quarterly, for the proper proclamations. In a paper printed here about the middle of February, (Remarks on obfervations), which is more particularly adapt ed to the caufes of the prefent dearth in Scotland, it is obferved, That for fix years paft vast quantities of grain have been yearly imported from England, and particularly to supply the deficiency of crop

1755: That though the crop 1756 was not perhaps more remarkably bad here than fome of the others, yet in England, and over all the north continent of Europe, that crop was worse than any that has occurred for thirty years paft; and even here the crops of barley, wheat, and peafe, are univerfally complained of: That in a country which does not grow enough to fupply itself, the price of its produce muft always depend upon the prices in that country from which it is fupplied; and that therefore our prices muft depend on thofe in England: That, in years of moderate plenty, the furplus grain exported from England does not, by the best computation, amount to one thirtieth of the growth; and it is not furprifing, that a bad feafon fhould dimi. nith the produce to a greater extent than this furplus, fince a bad crop of wheat does frequently not amount to one half of a good one; befides, a confiderable quantity was exported this year before the prohibition took place: That the late proclamation against foreftallers, &c. though well intended, had very bad effects; it gave a general alarm to the whole kingdom, and to all Europe, that the crops in England had failed: This had the fame effect as a general combination would have had amongst the farmers, landlords, and dealers; it occafioned mobs, and even the interpofition of juftices to prevent corn from being equally diffufed over the country: That the ftatutory prohibitions, not to fell but in public market, and against interpofition between the grower and confumer, can only in common fenfe be applied to the neighbourhood of a great city, or to diftricts which confume their whole produce: That interpofition is not only neceffary, where the grower and confumer live at great diftances, but it is not attended even with the confequence of raifing the price by paffing through more hands; for the corn merchant, by applying his whole attention and capital to that fingle branch, is able to make purchafes at the lowest rates from the farmers, and before any general alarm is taken; that he has more exact, early, and regular information, of the real degree

cf.

of plenty or scarcity from every crop; ny years paft; and that even English wheat, barley, and oats, are fold cheaper here, than at London, or at any other English port of confumpt. This can only be attributed to the skill and honefly of the corn-merchants, who by purchafing their grain immediately after harveft, while it was cheap, have been able to fell it afterwards at a lower price.

and he can also fave very confiderably on every article of freight, infurance, commiffion, and other incidental charges; and accordingly, in England, the manufacturers of grain, and the cornfactors or merchants, are entirely diftinct, and yet they can afford to fell their bifcuit and beer cheaper here than we can fell our own: That the profits upon the corn-trade are not fo great as is commonly imagined; that the chief profit arifes from the quick and certain returns it affords, but that the most fuccefsful corn-dealers, upon an average of their whole fales for twenty years, or even upon an average of their fales during a ny three years, have not made 2 or 3 per cent. clear profit: That at no time is the interpofition of merchants so neceffary, as during public fcarcity; becaufe though the growers, when overloaded with grain, will fometimes themselves fend it in queft of a market; yet when the demand is every where quick and frequent, they find it unneceffary to take that trouble, nor will they fell but to thofe of the best credit; and those who do not fend to fetch it, muft run the risk of famine. It is averred, That the corn-merchants of this city have hurried to market all the grain they poffibly could buy, either in Scotland or in England, and that the quantity they have bought in Scotland is very inconfiderable That though in all times of fcarcity there have been loud cries against hoarding, that yet that practice never prevails lefs than during fuch times; because the most certain method of gain to the merchant, is to hurry his grain to market, in order to obtain quick and frequent returns; befides that the high price requires too great a stock to permit of hoarding; and the risk of a fall in the market would make that a very imprudent measure, efpecially as hoarding is attended with a very great expence, and a risk that the grain may be spoiled. Another fact is averred, That the prices at the port of Leith have been uniformly lower for fix months paft than in any place of confumpt in the island, and this has even been the cafe for ma

It may be obferved, that if hoarding of grain by public authority were appointed after a bad season, it would be attended with many good confequences. At prefent, after a bad feafon, the markets are full, and the prices low for some time, which occafions a greater wafte than is neceffary for the fubfiftence of the inhabitants; but afterwards the prices rife intolerably high. By public hoarding, the prices would rife sooner, but they would never rife fo high; and corn would be diftributed to the people, as bifcuit is to a fhip's crew when a scarcity of provifions is apprehended; by which means the fame quantity of grain will last longer. Corn-merchants fupply in fome measure the want of fuch public hoarding, and it is against their intereft to act upon a plan different from what the general good requires. They may keep up their corn at the beginning of the feason, and by that means make prices rife earlier than they otherwife would; but they alfo prevent them from rifing fo high, because it is the merchant's intereft to fell off his corn before next harvest, otherwise he may lofe more than he could gain. Although no corn-merchants exifted, prices would always rife in times of scarcity beyond what the real deficiency of grain would require: for as foon as the alarm is generally spread, the farmers and growers immediately keep back their grain from market; and upon this footing it has been computed, that one tenth defect in the harvest, will raise the price of corn three tenths, and that three tenths defec will near triple the price. This has the fame effect with an univerfal combination, and is much more dangerous than what is to be feared from the combination of corn-merchants. Thefe gentlemen, by purchafing large quantities at

the

the cheap feafon, are enabled to make thought that the ftopping of the distillery high profits by a very moderate rife of would have reduced the price of corn: the price whereas it requires a very but the diftillers are buying up large confiderable rife to afford a moderate ftocks of grain, in order to refume their profit to every feparate farmer or grower. bufinefs at the expiration of the prohiBefides, the merchant, by his extenfive bition: fo that we humbly presume the intelligence, knows exactly the real de- prohibition ought to have extended to gree of fcarcity, and will proportion the their buying any corn, as well as to their price to that; whereas the farmer will extracting fpirits from it." often be deceived by the general apprehenfion, and raise the price for a time higher than in proportion to the real fcarcity and though in the end he himfelf may fuffer by this upon a fudden fall, yet the diftrefs to the country in the mean time must be very great; and it is undoubted, that the merchant, by diffufing the produce of the ifland equally to all its parts, muft prevent, unless in times of real famine, the prices in any one place from rifing to an intolerable height.

:

N. B. Our readers have seen by what methods it has been endeavoured to lower the prices; viz. by an imbargo on all fhips laden or to be laden with corn, &c. in G. Britain and Ireland, Dec. 4. [xviii. 567.]; by the act to prohibit the exportation of corn, &c. paffed Dec. 18. [xviii. 583.]; by the acts to difcontinue the duties upon corn imported, and to prohibit the exportation of corn from our colonies, paffed Feb. 15. [57, 8]; and by the act to prohibit the making of fpirits from grain [151].

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At a catastrophe fo affecting as that of a family perifhing for want of food in a land of plenty, we should paufe, and we fhould weep,was not the eye attracted, and our indignation raised by this paragraph which immediately follows it.

It is imagined there will be the greateft concourfe of nobility and gentry, &c. this week at Newmarket races, that has been known for many years past, there being several first-rate horfes to start."

The apprehenfion of many families perifhing in extremity of pain, for want of fuftenance, while those who have money enough already, are wresting their bread from them in order to get more, joined to this confideration, that great people, who fhould be the guardians of the poor, are wafting their time and their money at Newmarket, maugre the calamities both of famine and of war, is enough to make an Englishman AREFLECTION. April 11. 1757. forget himfelf, and with to be any where rather than in his own country. Lit. Mag. T'

HE papers of the day are not only a daily amusement, but a daily leffon in life. Every paper is a fort of tragi-comedy, that represents the different diftreffes and purfuits of mankind. Each compiler is a picturefque hiftorian, that prefents you with fomething to laugh at, and fomething to bewail; and their compilations, though a chaos of confufed matter promifcuously jumbled together, are aptly expreffive of the miferies and follies of mankind.

In one of the papers of this day you will find the following melancholy ac

count.

"We hear from Cumberland, that corn is fo fcarce there, that people actually die for want of bread and that a poor widow and two children, after living fome time on grains and bran, were found dead one morning; the children had ftraw in their mouths. It was

I wonder it has not occurred to fome of your correfpondents, during thefe times of neceffity and complaint, to admonish the gentlemen who keep horfes for pleasure only, to retrench them. of their oats. Is it not a fcandal, that thefe idle brutes fhould have three or four feeds a day, when many a poor foul cannot command Half a mess of pottage!

I am no enemy to the pleafures of the chace; but fo much a man, that I cannot fee my horfe pampered, while fo many of my fellow creatures ftarve for want of the food beafts needlessly enjoy.

-For God's fake, fportfmen, as that diverfion at this feason of the year is deftructive to the grounds, keep your beafts at their natural food, grafs or hay alone, which will not a little contribute to the relief of the poor. Cal. Mer. April 5.

METE

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196

Days

METEOROLOGICAL JOURNALS of the WEATHER. [xviii. 663.]

In Ludgate Street, London, by Ja. Ayscough.

Baro

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NE

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2529,94 25

E

hard frost all day

26 29,98 35 36 2730,1336 38 2830,303738N W

NE

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N

m. fm. rain, clo. day

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fair day

2829,9034

E

ditto

29 30,44 3438

NE

m. fm. rain, fair aft.

29 30,2 29

SE ditto

3030,30 31 36

NE

3130,2236 38

N

m. hard frost, fair day
fair all day

3030,1033

SE ditto

3130 35 N W gentle thaw all day

J.

J.

130,16 36 40

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129,7532 SE

gentle froft, and cloudy

229,79 36 37

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229,5535 E

hard froft all day

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m. hard froft, fair day

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429,99 33 36

NE

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29,86 35

E

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An abstract of the report of the general officers appointed to inquire into the conduct of Maj.-Gen. Steuart, and Colonels Cornwallis and Earl of Effingham.

TH

HE charge against thefe officers, as contained in the King's warrant, dated Nov. 22. 1756, was, their not joining their refpective commands in the island of Minorca. The board of generals, which confifted of Sir John Ligonier, and Lt-Gen Huke and Cholmondeley, and met Dec. 8. 1756, were alfo to inquire, whether they had ufed their utmost endeavours to throw themselves into Fort St Philip; and why, being only paffengers, they affifted at the fea council of war, which advised an im

mediate return to Gibraltar.

Gen. Steuart, in his defence, acquainted the board in writing, That having received the King's orders in November 1755, to repair to Minorca, to ferve under and be affifting to Lt-Gen. Blakeney, he prepared to obey them as foon as poffible; but no fhip of war was fent to the Mediterranean till Mr Byng's fquadron failed: That in February following, being informed that his Majefty expected he would fet out immediate ly, he applied to Lord Anson for a fhip to carry him, together with fome officers and recruits belonging to the regiments in Minorca: That the Revenge was appointed; but before he was ready, Adm. Byng's fquadron was ordered, and on application to that Admiral, he the General, with the officers and recruits, were distributed on board the feveral fhips of his fquadron.That with regard to throwing himself into Minorca, he knew that Adm. Byng had orders to put them on shore; and therefore a particular application was in itself unneceffary; and rendered still more fo by the appearance of the French fleet on their approaching the island, and the measures thereupon taken by the Admiral.That as to his affifting at the council of war, he was fummoned by the Admiral, and being an officer fent on the fame fervice, and having the fame point in view, with the officers of the fleet, and bound to cooperate with them to the utmost of his VOL. XIX.

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power for the advancement of that fervice; under thefe perfuafions, he was prefent at the council of war; where he gave that opinion which feemed to him to be moft for his Majefty's fervice, confidering the circumftances of affairs, the ftate of the fleet, and the fentiments of all the gentlemen that were prefent.

The fubftance of Col. Cornwallis's written defence was, That being confined to his houfe by a fevere illness for five weeks, and hearing that the officers belonging to Minorca were ordered to repair to their pofts; in four days from the time he could poffibly go out, he repaired to Portfmouth, March 26. in a ftate of health which an officer lefs defirous of going to his duty, would have pleaded as an incapacity.- That he never perceived any difinclination in the Admiral to endeavour to land him, and therefore no neceffity for afking him to do what he was ordered to do; that on their arrival off the ifland fuch an application would have been improper, on account of the difpofitions made by the Admiral on defcrying the French fleet; and the unfortunate engagement rendered their landing afterwards impracticable.

That he affifted at the coun

cil of war because he was fummoned by the Admiral, and looked on himself as under his command; and nothing hath been more common than land and fea officers fitting together upon fea councils of war.

Col. Cornwallis added verbaily: "May I be permitted to fay, that I have been now upwards of twenty-fix years in his Majesty's service, and employed upon more fervice and greater variety than perhaps any officer of my years and standing in the army; that it has been my good fortune, during the courfe of my fervice, never to have had a reprimand, or even rebuke, from any fuperior officer; and that I have had the honour to ferve under the feveral general officers appointed for this inquiry; and I flatter myself they will bear teftimony of my zeal for and forwardness in the King's fervice upon all occafions."

The Earl of Effingham's written defence was much to the fame effect as that of Col. Cornwallis.

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